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Old Media version 1.0045

May 17, 2006 by Jim Parker in Internet Business, media

It looks like the Old Media Companies have their own idea about Media 2.0.  Though they’re smart enough to not call it “Media 2.0″.  I think they’ve got it figured out.  The mainstream media is definitely changing.  I believe that Old Media is well positioned to reap the benefits of the value they are creating.

What most people forget about the Media business is that it is all about entertainment FIRST.  Entertainment value is the most significant factor in the media business.  Things like search cost and distribution cost and microchunking cost (sorry umair ) don’t add up to a hill of beans when it comes to true entertainment value.  Media still does an outstanding job of entertaining us.

But will innovative new things in search, distribution, and reconstruction add significant value in the near future?

Absolutely, but only at the pace that the PUBLIC wants.  That’s right.  It’s the Users that drive demand - not the media 2.0 Pundits.

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When VR is AR: Family Style

by Jim Parker in family, future, technology

(or when virtual reality becomes actual reality)

I had a conversation with a close body a couple of weeks ago about how Virtual Reality (VR) will enhance the family experience.  His argument was “Why would anybody want to spend any time in an area that just wasn’t real?  I’d rather have real life than a made up fantasy land.”  Which is a very well made point. 

Yet, I believe otherwise.  I asked:  “When you go see a movie in the movie theatre, how much of that 2 hours do you actually spend communicating with your family?”.  Continuing with, “Most families I see at the movie theatre are very quietly, politely sitting in submission to the big screen.”   “Is that what you call real?”, I asked.

Instead, my vision of what’s really real is when a family meets in VR on a Friday night from 6pm until 8pm every week. 

The Son, living in New York, the sister in Chicago, the parents in St. Louis, and everyone comes together for some family activity once a week.  Exploring the Taj Mahal this week, Grand Canyon next week, the Florida Keys the week after that - all virtually, but all together.  Making ripples back and forth on the pools of the Taj Mahal, standing at the edge of The Canyon, wind blowing everyone’s hair as we watch a beautiful sunset, or taking a couple of jet skis weaving in and out of dangerous coral areas…But never life threateningly dangerous…and all of this I share real-time with my family. 

What could possibly be more real than that?

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My Journalist Friend

by Jim Parker in blogging, friends

Thanks to Anton for announcing my blog on jcu92.org (Jim Parker Checks In ).  Anton is one of those friends that when you haven’t seen or talked to him in many, many years, when you finally talk to him, it is as though you had been talking to him every day for the past week.

That’s always nice.

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Two are better than One

by Jim Parker in family

Uma, my wife, is almost 28 weeks with twins.  We’ve got at least 7-8 more weeks to go.  (we are shooting for July 15th - but of course, the actual date is yet to be determined - full term is August 12th.)  It’s fun watching her tummy change shapes as the babies move around inside her.  Those kids are always dancing around.

…which is already affecting our household.  Things are changing fast.  We are preparing every nook and cranny of our humble home for the babies.  It’s a huge effort.  But boy is it invigorating.

Uma, my East Indian Princess (see wedding pics at http://www.jimuma.com), is like an Angel in dealing with all of these changes to her body.  She is a very resilient woman.  She perfectly maintains a regular amount of laughter and smiles.

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Dear AttentionGrab Blog

by Jim Parker in blogging

Dear AttentionGrab Blog,

Please pardon my absence.  But don’t get me wrong, I love having this blog.  I understand and accept that you have lofty ambitions for me.  Those are ambitions which I share and embrace.

I’ve just been busy with life.

jim

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Attention Grab Author

• Jim Parker
  I enjoy watching all of the changes in the world that are caused by us trying to figure out technology.
• Jim Parker